More Blais Speculation.

I saw this story over on Husker Mike's blog. Some interesting speculation on who would be the next coach of UNO hockey team. It would appear that Blais can basically stand back and wait for the best offer, it would appear that he has a few options to chose from. Blais can stay at Fargo, apply for the UNO job, or wait. If Blais takes the UNO job they would be a national contender in after a couple of recruiting cycles. I would rather see Blais at UND or UNO than Minnesota.

QUICK SPECULATION There has been much talk about Dean Blais, just named head coach of the 2010 US National Junior team, being asked to take the reigns at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. However, there has been equal talk that he is waiting for the job at the University of Minnesota to open up.

There is a large, and growing contingent of power players in Minnesota hockey who would like to see Blais, a Gopher alumnus, behind the bench of Minnesota. There is little chance that Joel Maturi would make a move before Don Lucia's contract expires. However with the number of players leaving the program for other schools, leaving for the pros early, poor academic performance, lagging attendance, instability with assistant coaches and a failure to win, there will be increased pressure sooner rather than later and Blais would be a considered a candidate if he is available.

Other primary candidates would be current Hamline head coach Scott Bell or USHL coach Kevin Hartzell. While UNO is thought to be interested in Blais it also unlikely that they can afford what Blais would be used to as a salary. Mike Guentzel, Dave Quinn and Mike Hastings remain the most likely candidates, unless Blais wants back into the college game sooner rather than later. Another option would be if Dave Hakstol has aspirations to move into the ranks of professional coaching and then Blais could move back to the University of North Dakota bench. Pure conjecture, but not out of the realm of possibility considering Hakstol's background in the professional game and the coaches being hired in the ECHL and AHL and as assistant coaches in the NHL currently.